the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第34节
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performance as usual。
The performance had gotten along well toward the end； and without
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the slightest interruption。 All hands were beginning to feel a certain
sense of relief； when the shrill blasts of the boss canvasman's emergency
whistle were heard outside the big top。
Phil had just completed his trapeze act and was dropping into the net
when the whistle sounded。
He glanced up and made a signal to the others in the air。 They dropped；
one by one； to the net and swung themselves to the ground； where they
stood awaiting the completion of the piece that the band was playing。
〃Wind； isn't it？〃 questioned Mr。 Prentice。
Phil nodded。
He was listening intently。 His keen ears caught a distant roar that
caused him to gaze apprehensively aloft。
〃I am afraid we are going to have trouble；〃 he said。
〃It has been in the air all the evening；〃 was the low answer。 〃Wonder if
they have the menagerie tent out of the way？〃
It was being taken down at that moment； the elephants having been
removed to the train； as had part of the cages。
All at once there was a roar that sent the blood from the faces of the
spectators。 The boss canvasman's whistle trilled excitedly。
〃There go the dressing tents；〃 said Phil calmly as a ripping and rending
was heard off by the paddock。 〃I hope it hasn't taken my trunk with it。
Glad I locked the trunk before coming into the ring。〃
The band stopped playing suddenly。 The tent was in absolute silence。
〃It's a cyclone！〃 shouted a voice among the spectators。
A murmur ran over the assemblage。 In a moment they would be in a
mad rush； trampling each other under foot in their efforts to escape。
Phil bounded toward the band。
〃Play！ Play！〃 he shouted。 〃They'll stampede if you don't。 Play； I tell
you！〃
The bandmaster waved his baton and the music of the band drowned
out the mutterings of the storm for the moment。
Suddenly the roaring without grew louder。 Ropes were creaking；
center and quarter poles lifting themselves a few inches from the ground；
dangerously。
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〃It's blowing end on；〃 muttered Phil； running full speed down the
concourse in his ring costume。
〃Keep your seats！〃 he shouted。 〃There may be no danger。 If the
tent should go down you will be safer where you are。 Keep your seats；
everybody。〃
Phil dashed on； shouting his warning until he had gotten halfway
around the tent。 Mr。 Prentice had taken up the lad's cry on the other side。
Then the blow fell。
The big top bent under the sweep of the gale until the center poles
were leaning far over to the north。 Had the wind not struck the tent on
the end it must have gone down under the first blast。 As it was； canvas；
rope and pole were holding； but every stitch of canvas and every pole was
trembling under its burden。
〃Sit steady； everybody！ We may be able to weather it。〃
Phil saw that； if the people were to run into the arena and the tent
should fall； many must be crushed under the center and quarter poles。
Up and down he ran shouting words of encouragement； and he was
thus engaged when Mr。 Sparling worked his way in from the pad room； as
the open enclosure between the two dressing tents is called。 Phil had
picked up the ringmaster's whip and was cracking it to attract the attention
of the people to what he was trying to tell them。
Somehow； many seemed to gain confidence from this plucky； slender
lad clad in silk tights； who was rushing up and down as cool and collected
as if three thousand persons were not in deadly peril。
Nothing but Phil Forrest's coolness saved many from death that night。
A mighty roar suddenly drew every eye in the tent to the south end
where the wind was pressing against the canvas with increasing force。
Phil stood near the entrance； the flap of which had been quickly laced
and staked down when the canvasmen saw the gale coming upon them。
He turned quickly； for the roar had seemed to be almost at his side。
What he saw drew an exclamation from Phil that； at other times； might
have been humorous。 There was no humor in it now。
〃Gracious！〃 exclaimed the lad。
There； within twenty feet of him stood a lion； a huge； powerful beast；
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
with head up； the hair standing straight along its back； the mane rippling in
the breeze。
〃It's Wallace；〃 breathed the lad； almost unable to believe his eyes。
The biggest lion in captivity； somehow in the excitement had managed to
escape from his cage。
〃Now there'll be a panic for sure！ They've seen him！〃
〃Sit still and keep still！ He won't hurt you！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Now； you
get out of here！〃 commanded Phil； starting toward Wallace and cracking
the ringmaster's whip in the animal's face。
Just for the briefest part of a second did Wallace give way； then with a
terrific roar； he bounded clear over the Circus Boy's head； bowling Phil
over as he leaped； and on down to the center of the arena。
Phil had not been hurt。 He was up and after the dangerous beast in a
twinkling。 The audience saw what he was trying to do。
〃Keep away from him！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。
〃Throw a net over him！〃 shouted Phil。
However； between the storm and the escaped lion； none seemed to
have his wits about him sufficiently to know what was best to do。 Had the
showmen acted promptly when Phil called； they might have been able to
capture the beast then and there。
Seeing that they were not going to do so； and that the lion was walking
slowly toward the reserved seats； Phil sprang in front of the dangerous
brute to head him off。
The occupants of the reserved seats were standing up。 The panic
might break at any minute。
〃Sit down！〃 came the command； in a stern； boyish voice。
Phil faced the escaped lion； starting toward it with a threatening
motion of the whip。
〃Are you ever going to get a net？〃
〃Get a net！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling。 〃Get away from him； Phil！〃
Instead of doing so； the Circus Boy stepped closer to the beast。 No one
made the slightest move to capture the beast； as Phil realized might easily
be done now； if only a few had the presence of mind to attempt it。
Crack！
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The ringmaster's whip in Phil's hands snapped and the leather lash bit
deep into the nose of Wallace。
With a roar that sounded louder than that of the storm outside the lion
took a quick step forward； only to get the lash on his nose again。
Suddenly he turned about and in long； curving bounds headed for the
lower end of the tent。 Mr。 Sparling sprang to one side； knowing full well
that it would be better to lose the lion than to stir up the audience more
than they already were stirred。
Phil was in full pursuit； cracking his whip at every jump。
Wallace leaped through the open flap at the lower end of the tent and
disappeared in the night。
Just as he did so there came a sound different from anything that had
preceded it。 A series of reports followed one another until it sounded as
if a battery of small cannon were being fired； together with a ripping and
tearing and rending that sent every spectator in the big tent； to his feet
yelling and shouting。
〃The tent is coming down！ The tent is coming down！〃
Women fainted and men began fighting to get down into the arena。
〃Stay where you are！〃 shouted Phil。 Then the Circus Boy did a bold
act。 Running along in front of the seats he let drive the lash of his long
whip full into t
